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An editor’s note on the June 20 Opinion page incorrectly characterized the primary election race between Tom Bennhoff and Randy Wheelock for Clear Creek County commissioner. Bennhoff and Wheelock are Democrats and were vying in District 3, which includes the towns of Empire, Silver Plume and Georgetown.

Evergreen and Foothills Fire/Rescue firefighters are at the scene of a grass fire in an area between Genesee and Kittredge after a lightning strike ignited dry fuels Wednesday afternoon.
The fire, which was contained by 5 p.m., burned about a tenth of an acre near Spring Ranch Drive east of Evergreen and north of Kerr Gulch Road, according to an Evergreen Fire/Rescue spokesman. No one was injured, and no structures were damaged.

The pro and con contingents are drawing up battles lines over the proposed property-tax increase for Jeffco schools on the November ballot.

Opponents say the tax increase would not fully address the district’s budget issues or guarantee improved student performance, and that the district can find other places to cut the budget. Proponents counter that the increase would help a district ravaged by budget cuts over the past several years and help keep residential property values in the county high by maintaining quality schools.

The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are now under stage 2 fire restrictions, as well as a recreational shooting ban.
“We have a major fire burning on our forest,” said forest supervisor Glenn Casamassa. “Protecting people and homes is our main priority. Since fire danger is at an all-time high, doing what we can to prevent additional ignitions is imperative.”

A 5-mile stretch of Clear Creek straddling Jefferson and Clear Creek county open spaces will be the focus of a $4.6 million paved-trail project that promises to open up the waterway for kayakers, runners, hikers and cyclists to enjoy.

The entire project will cost a projected $10.2 million, including $4.5 million in matching funds from Jeffco Open Space and $1.1 million from Clear Creek Open Space.

While families were having picnics and enjoying the toasty weather at Evergreen Lake on Saturday, two dozen volunteers were walking around the lake with large trash bags — pulling weeds.

Evergreen Audubon volunteers collected about a dozen bags of weeds, an effort they have undertaken each spring for the past 15 years. They walk the circumference of the lake to check the grassy areas for weeds, staying way from the wetlands because of the nesting birds.

Republicans in the 2nd Congressional District chose veteran politician Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud to face Democratic incumbent Jared Polis in the November election.

With all precincts reporting, Lundberg defeated Boulder entrepreneur Eric Weissmann 53.3 percent to 46.6 percent in the June 26 primary, in a redrawn district that added Evergreen, Conifer and other conservative areas to Polis’ formerly safe Democratic stronghold.

By Mike Weege
Evergreen Fire/Rescue has been planning to build a training facility for years. Research of building types and locations began in 2010, resulting in a proposal presented to the fire district board early in 2012.
I encourage community members to base their opinions on accurate information. In our current political environment, both locally and nationally, accurate information can be difficult to come by. Please do your own research, gather the facts and listen to both sides of the conversation before forming an opinion.

The questions I am most frequently asked are, “What is the best bird book for this area?” or “What is the best bird book for identification? or “What book do you use?” Actually, I use three books most frequently.